National Republican., 1887-08-04
That Infamous Tax.

While the Nashville american favors the
nomination Of a man for President who Is
opposed to the removal Of the internal reve-
nue. taxes and in favor OF a reduction Of the
impost duties, II yet has the courage to give
its readers the following editorial under the
head line, "1hat Infamous Tax !"
should tobacco be taxed? No. But trading
in tobacco may be made privilege and taxed
as such. Should whisky be taxcd2 Yea. II It
is made It ought to be taxed and the sale of II
should be taxed as n privilege, But the STATE
and not the federal government should get ths
benefit of tho tax.
Has any such wrong been inflicted on thr
people of the states who are in the buslnc"o'
raising tobacco or manufacturing spirit
There has never been such MONOPOLY In th
country, such protection extended to any
business as Is given the whisky Interests under
the internal revenue system. Under 1t slls-
COO,CO0 Of revenue was collected last year.
Docs the government need the money! Nj
dollar of 1t, no use for IL, don't know wha
to do with II, the whole country is In state %
perturbation over II, all know II IS n cIrru'
ton fund, and all know the country ls thna
encd with Gnnuclal paralysis by the locking ~
Of that much money.
The cry comes from every quarter tn
surplus. On, the surplus--wnat shall be dol"
with it2 How can we get 1t back into cl'
culation? One senator says throw 1t into th,
sea, rather than let It lie IN the treasury ~ "
Corruption fund Others regard any sort OF
raid OH the treasury a. justiia5!c, and all sor
of schemes are devised to rob the treasury.
The question at once reours: "ls this tn.
favorite or the only mode of collecting taxes"
The answer is no, 1t IL most offensive: 1t w.
condemned by Jefferson aud Madison. N
theory of the government Is tp collect . ..
revenue by a duty on imported good. Thl,
power was given 10 be used In times O.
great emergency, when war or othlr cIu,e
made an internal tax necessity
But nothing save depleted treasury could
| justify, excuse, or even pallintc it. II IS III
odous tax. It is au unjust tax a
| few of the States paying II all. Aud yet W.
| have an clement who insist on retaining thu.
| infamous shot gun system, simply because the.
| arc unwilling for the laborng people IN r.
| the teneht Of the incidental protection wAc.
duty on imported goods brings them.
| Are these gentlemen consistent? They pre-.
tend they nre not for free trade, aud that what.
| ever protection labor can get By incid snta
| protection they are willing they shall have
And yet they insist on retaining this odlou,
1
taxes, Just TO keep the iaborts from getting it,
| cidCntal protection by, or from, the taxes OF
imported goods.
viii the american lend its aid TO elec
Mr. John G.. Carlisle speaker OF the mex
House of Representatives when 1t know
that by most high-handed usurpation, un
equaled IN the annals Of any legislatiy,
body, Mr.. Carlisle prevented the repeal o
''that infamous taxi on tobacco'
| The american must not forget that Mr.
Carlisle has already announced that In th
next Congress lie will not consent to tn
repeal Of the tobacco tax, unless cor
responding reduction is made on custom
duties.
There is very little doubt that In caucu
Of his party Mr. Carlisle will be nominate
FOR speaker of the fftieth Congress, aud /
all the Democrats In the House OF Repre-
| oo,'l~tives Support him NJ. Carlisle viii h
speaker. The rules Of the House give tn
speaker immense power, aud Mr.. Carltsl
Qs speaker will be in better condition thil
ever 10 prevent the repeal Of "that II
famous tax" What power lie does nc
possess he will usurp, as he did in the las
Congress.
The Am0icdn knows all these facts.
is leading Democratic paper possessiu
great influence with number of Democrat
who hold the same views us those eXpresse
by the IBlcricaR. win 1t use its inilueuc
and advise these Democratic representative
torefuse to obey the caucus when 1t order
them to vote for john G. Carlisle ft
Speaker?
There ave number Of Democratic repr'
sentatves who, II they were assured of II
support Of such paper as the america
would boldly refuse to support Mr.. Carlls
or any other free trader for speaker, til,
giving him power to continue "that inf
nous tax" Let the Amcricn. speak oI
on the subject.